The face of bullying has evolved over the years. No longer do children just have to worry about being bullied at school. Nowadays, kids also have to face cyberbullying.
More than 77% of students are victims of bullying. While some kids cope better with bullying, the fact remains that bullying negatively impacts a child.
Bullying can lower a child’s self-esteem. It can cause them to skip school for fear of being made fun of. Bullying can even lead to suicide.
Reassuring and listening to a victim can be helpful. But, there is a better solution for bullying: Muay Thai.
Signs of Bullying
Bullying can happen to any child of any age. From elementary school through high school, there is always a bully lurking in the hallways
As a parent, it can be hard to know if your child is being bullied. Remember, bullying isn’t always physical, so there may be no visible signs. More often than not, bullying is verbal and emotional.
So what are some telltale signs that your child is being bullied?
Signs and symptoms of bullying include:
- Sad, moody, and/or depressed feelings
- Excuses to miss school
- Loss of interest in school
- Sudden drop in grades and achievements
- Heightened anxiety
- Lowered self-esteem
- Problems sleeping
If you believe your child is being bullied, be proactive. Approach your child and offer a listening ear. Show that you are worried and care about the issue at hand.
But, talking only goes so far. If you want to allow your child to grow into a better person, consider martial arts. Muay Thai is a great option for children of all ages and sizes.
Keep reading to learn about this ancient martial art and how it can combat against the impacts of bullying.
What Is Muay Thai?
Muay Thai, also known as “The Art of Eight Limbs” is a type of martial art. It focuses on stand up striking as well as clinch techniques. Muay Thai emphasizes use of the:
- Fists
- Knees
- Elbows
- Legs
- Shins
Muay Thai dates back to the 19th century and is widely practiced in Southeast Asian countries. The sport is praised for being a physical and mental discipline.
Think martial arts could cause a bullied child to react with violence? Think again!
Let’s discuss the benefits of Muay Thai as a solution to bullying.
Why Muay Thai Is the Best Solution for Bullying
In most instances of bullying, adults step in to mediate the situation. However, bullying isn’t always obvious.
Do you suspect that your child is being bullied? If so, enrolling him/her in Muay Thai classes is a great idea.
Here are 5 impactful reasons for why this art is a good solution for bullying.
1. Emphasizes Respect
Children don’t always know the value of respect. With martial arts training, respect is required. Not only must children respect their leader, they must also respect their peers.
When children understand the importance of respect, they become better people. Respect shows the importance of self-awareness and self-reflection.
When a child understands his/her flaws, self-improvement is much easier. This, in turn, allows a kid to grow as a better human being.
The more respect a child has for himself and for others, the better off society is.
2. A Sense of Responsibility
Physically protecting oneself is an important responsibility. While Muay Thai teaches self-defense, it also stresses proper self-defense.
With martial arts, children are able to learn:
- How and when to use self-defense
- How to defend without seriously injuring another
- The impacts of physical response
Bullying often occurs because children don’t understand the impacts of their actions and words. As a solution for bullying, Muay Thai stresses the importance of holding ourselves accountable.
3. Sportsmanship
Attend any youth sport and you’ve got lots of talk about winning and losing. But, Muay Thai focuses on how the game is played. It emphasizes the importance of improving and sportsmanship.
No matter the outcome of a match, children gain experience, knowledge, and wisdom. If a child learns something, there is no sense of loss. Instead, victory can be found in the new knowledge.
Sportsmanship is important because defeat is inevitable. Being able to look past the end result and embrace the experience is key.
Children with poor sportsmanship may be more likely to be bullies.
4. Focuses on Body Language
You won’t find many words said during martial arts training. Instead, there is a heavy emphasis on body language.
One of the first lessons a child learns in Muay Thai is the importance of proper stance. The right posture can exude confidence.
In Muay Thai, the attention stance includes:
- A straight body
- Shoulders back
- Feet firmly on the ground
- Eyes focused and ahead
Having a confident posture can help deflect threats from a bully. A bully may be less likely to pick on a child who appears to be confident and self-aware.
The right stance can help to defuse a situation to avoid a physical response.
5. Create Long-Lasting Friendships
Bullied children often feel isolated because they don’t fit in with the popular kids. Not having many friends in school can cause a child to become depressed.
Muay Thai is a quality solution for bullying because it enables children to create meaningful friendships. During training, students have to work with each other. This creates a strong sense of camaraderie.
Martial arts stresses the importance of teamwork. It shows how we can all help others achieve the greatest version of themselves.
Increase Your Martial Arts Knowledge
Muay Thai is more than just a martial art. It can be used as a way to lose weight and get into shape. It can also be used to better our society as a whole by promoting self-improvement and respect.
We offer a wide variety of Muay Thai information. From clinch techniques to Muay Thai workouts, we have all of the tips and tricks to become a Muay Thai pro. Check out our blog to start boosting your knowledge!